In the midst of the 19th century, Emily Dickinson emerged as one of the most profound, albeit unpublished, poets of her time. Her poetry, often noted for its unconventional punctuation and capitalization, reflects a deep exploration of nature, love, death, and immortality. Operating outside the established norms of her era, Dickinson's work was characterized by an intense personal style that incorporated dashes and irregular capitalizations to emphasize particular words and phrases. This unique approach not only set her apart from her contemporaries but also contributed to the enduring relevance and study of her poetry today.
Which choice best describes the function of the underlined sentence in the passage as a whole?